Committees forming to distribute gifts

Nanci G. Hutson

Updated 8:58 pm, Sunday, February 3, 2013

NEWTOWN -- The overwhelming outpouring of donations, condolence cards and suggestions for a permanent Sandy Hook Elementary memorial have led Town Hall and school district staff begin to set up committees to handle the staggering amount of good will.

Since the Dec. 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, the town and school district have received an enormous amount of goods, as well as offers for services and contributions for more permanent memorials, including benches and trees, a carousel, sculptures and living memorials.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said Thursday as much as the town and schools appreciate the outpouring, the massive amount that has been shipped, as well as calls and emails with recommendations for permanent memorials, "is almost unmanageable now."

More Information

Putting donations to useAny requests for donations of physical goods now stored in the town warehouse can be made to donationrequests@newtownvolunteers.org or by calling 855-364-6600.For anyone wishing to make a recommendation for a memorial idea can do so by sending an email to info@healing.newtown.

She said she personally has received more than 22,000 emails, not including the letters, phone calls and meetings with those wishing to offer tangible condolences.

"The volume of contact is extraordinary," Llodra said.

Llodra said she and various town departments are beginning to create ways to ensure these offers are properly handled.

As for the physical donations now stored in a Simm Lane warehouse, Llodra said those items have been catalogued so that they can be properly organized and distributed "in a way that would honor the intention of our donors."

Specific donations to Sandy Hook families and teachers have been separated and distributed.

"Our 26 Sandy Hook families have also had a chance to review what has come in and request distribution to any organizations they choose to donate to in the name of their loved ones," Llodra said in a news release.

A donation coordination team was created to manage this project. Once all requests are reviewed, the team will allocate the donations. Priority will be given to the Sandy Hook School, other district elementary schools, other district and private schools, and families and children in need and the organizations that serve them, the release said.

"Once all local needs have been met, the team will begin distribution of surplus goods," Llodra said in the news release.

In mid-February, Llodra said, she hopes the Board of Selectmen will ask a volunteer memorial commission to act as a clearinghouse for the proposals to come. She said a key in choosing a permanent memorial, which is not a government decision, will be "significant public input" so the community's voice is heard "loud and clear."

But Llodra was clear that deciding on a permanent memorial is not the town's immediate priority.

Community conversations, including private meetings with families, related to the fate of the Sandy Hook School are ongoing, Llodra said. Within the next month or so, Llodra said, she expects town government officials will begin the decision-making process on that school.